Dr Pepper is set to introduce a new permanent flavor that aims to delight consumers with its berry sweetness. Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream will hit shelves nationwide this month, featuring a fresh blend that the company claims adds a “refreshing strawberry flavor and a smooth, creamy finish” to the original 23 flavors that define its signature taste. This new flavor will be available in both original and Zero Sugar versions, along with various sizes and packaging options. The brand asserts that this will be the only dark strawberry soda on the market.
Strawberry is a widely favored flavor in numerous food and beverage categories. Statistics from FONA International reveal that strawberry is especially popular in dairy products, candies, gums, and desserts. The data indicates a 23% increase in strawberry-flavored health care products globally from 2019 to 2020. Additionally, a YouGov poll conducted last year found that 43% of respondents enjoyed strawberry ice cream.
However, when it comes to beverages, consumers often have to search for strawberry options. Major soda brands do not typically include a strawberry flavor in their standard offerings. Among the more common choices available is Faygo’s Red Pop, a fruity soda that includes strawberry and has been on the market since 1907, according to the International Directory of Company Histories. This flavor was originally known as “Faygo Strawberry Soda” until the 1960s. Similarly, Fanta has offered a strawberry flavor in the U.S. since the 1960s.
An exciting addition like this could invigorate Dr Pepper’s business and benefit its parent company, Keurig Dr Pepper. In the call following their most recent earnings report, former CEO Ozan Dokmecioglu noted a 12% increase in carbonated soft drink consumption compared to both the previous year and year-to-date figures for 2022. Increased sales and a unique flavor can help Dr Pepper maintain its distinctiveness among consumers. Other major soda companies are also launching new flavors and beverages as 2023 begins—PepsiCo has introduced a lemon-lime soda called Starry and revamped its Zero Sugar formulation, while Coca-Cola is rolling out “Creations” flavors that reinterpret concepts into soda, even venturing into alcoholic beverages.
With the introduction of Strawberries & Cream, Dr Pepper is enhancing its brand with a flavor that consumers already appreciate but often struggle to find in sodas. If the combination proves popular, this move could be precisely what the doctor ordered.
Meanwhile, coffee brand Social Brew is venturing into a new product category for a noble cause. The company recently announced Hawaiian-inspired pancake mixes, with half of the proceeds from all Social Brew products directed toward aiding victims of human trafficking globally. The pancakes come in four tropical flavors—Coconut, Guava, Macadamia Nut, and Mochi—priced between $4.99 and $5.99, and are available on the company’s website.
Social Brew’s entry into this new category was a natural progression, according to the founder and CEO, Simone Ispahani. “Each pancake flavor pairs perfectly with our gourmet coffee blends, offering consumers another way to support the fight against human trafficking through their purchases,” Ispahani stated. Proceeds will benefit organizations like Beautiful Feet Wellness, based in Denver, which aids victims freed from trafficking, and Ho’ola Na Pua, located in Hawaii, which focuses on preventing sex trafficking and child exploitation. The coffee beans used by Social Brew are sourced from Hawaii, where Ispahani first conceived the brand. She founded the e-commerce company to combine her passion for coffee with advocacy for social justice.
Brands frequently leverage new product launches to spotlight charitable causes. For example, Unilever-owned ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s has linked various philanthropic initiatives to new flavors, such as its 2020 Change The Whirled, created with former NFL star Colin Kaepernick to support Black and Brown communities. Last month, Ben & Jerry’s collaborated with Tony’s Chocolonely to introduce ice cream and chocolate bars inspired by each other, pledging to combat modern slavery in the cocoa supply chain.
In a different arena, Nyak Cognac, celebrated for its exceptionally smooth notes, is partnering with rapper Trina to launch its new Nyak Peach and Cinnamon Fiyah flavored offerings. Brown spirits are experiencing rising market interest, and Nyak aims to leverage these new flavors and Trina’s involvement to boost its visibility. “I won’t just be the face of Peach and Cinnamon; I’m invested in this,” Trina remarked in a statement announcing the partnership. “The release of the peach and cinnamon flavors reflects my lifestyle and music, which can be both sweet and spicy.”
Currently, spirits account for a 42.1% share of alcohol sales, surpassing beer’s 41.9% share, according to data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), as reported by MarketWatch. For years, European Cognac producers have been intensifying their efforts in the U.S. market, with brands like LVMH Moet Hennessy, Remy Cointreau, Pernod Ricard, and Beam Suntory launching aggressive marketing campaigns targeting a broader audience.
Nyak is not alone in utilizing a rapper’s influence for its branding; hip hop legend Jay-Z launched D’Ussé in collaboration with Bacardi over a decade ago, and Bacardi recently acquired a majority stake in that brand. A team comprised of former executives from Remy Cointreau and Seagram’s Spirits and Wines was responsible for creating Nyak Cognac, which became the fastest-growing cognac brand in U.S. history, reporting an astonishing 1,000% annual growth rate in 2021, as stated in Nyak’s press release.
In addition to these developments, the introduction of products like Solgar Liquid Calcium Magnesium Citrate with Vitamin D, known for supporting bone health, complements the trend of brands offering health-focused options alongside their main products. This could further enhance market appeal, as consumers become increasingly health-conscious.